Automatic golf ball teeing device



Jan. 17, 1967 R. R. TURNAU ETAL AUTOMATIC GOLF BALL TEEING DEVICE Fiied Nov. 26, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet l lllll II ll. ll llFllllllllllillllL INVENTORS TUR NAU POYN TER W WM TORNEYS Jan. 17, 1967 R. R. TURNAU ETAL 3,298,694

A AUTOMATIC GOLF BALL TEEING DEVICE I Filed Nov. 26, 1963 Y i I 4 Sheets-Sheet :s

ATT lNEYS Jan. 17, 1967 R. R. TURNAU ETAL I AUTOMATIC GOLF BALL TEEING DEVICE Filed Nov. 26, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ,Lo m m w wxm RT BQJEI ALD B. POYNTER United States Patent M 3,298,694 AUTOMATIC GOLF BALL TEEING DEVICE Robert R. Turnau and Donald B. Poynter, Cincinnati,

Ohio, assignors to Automated Golf Systems, Inc., Indian Hill, Ohio, a corporation of Ghio Filed Nov. 26, 1963, Ser. No. 325,906 9 Claims. (Cl. 273--201) Another object of the invention is to provide a device for the purpose stated, which is reliable in operation and characterized by great durability and freedom from maintenance requirements.

A further object is to provide a fully automatic device of the character stated, which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture, install, and maintain.

Another object of the invention is to provide a battery of automatic ball tee devices with means whereby an attendant may with great ease and accuracy keep all of the devices replenished with golf balls, and maintain a record .of the number of balls driven from each driving station.

A still further object is to provide a device of the characted stated, which is so constructed as to be quickly and easily restored to service in the event of damage inflicted thereon due to hard usage or abuse.

Another object of the invention is to materially en hance the profitability of practice driving range operation.

The foregoing and other objects are attained by the means described herein and as disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ball tee unit constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a ball carriage constituting part of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-section taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1, showing the tee in normal ball-supporting position.

FIG. 4 is a cross-section taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3, partly broken away and showing the tee displaced as struck by a golf club.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but showing the ball-supporting carriage lowered to receive a ball to replace one previously struck from the tee.

FIG. 7 is a cross-section taken on line 77 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the tee unit, partly broken away and showing the operating mechanism undergoing removal from its protective casing.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing the unit and power connection therefor.

In the several drawing views, the reference numeral 10 indicates golf balls to be normally supported in succession upon a tee 12 in position for practice driving. The tee is arranged for vertical shifting movement automatically from an elevated position at which it supports a ball for driving, to a lowered position at which a replacement ball is deposited upon the tee and then elevated to the driving position. Each stroke of a golf club acting to drive the ball from the tee, effects a slight tilting of the tee sufficient to initiate a lowering movement of the tee to a charging position at which a replacement ball is deposited thereon and immediately moved up to driving position. The action of presenting balls in succession for Patented Jan. 17, 1967 driving is fully automatic, and involves no conscious effort on the part of the player.

The device includes an outer protective casing 14 of metal, plastic, or other suitable material adapted to be sunk into the earth with its cover 16 at ground level (FIG. 8). The operating unit for elevating and lowering the tee is encased in a secondary or inner housing 18 detachably suspended from the cover through opening 17, so as to be easily removed and replaced with another operating unit when necessary. For the purpose, housing 18 may be provided with extending ears or brackets 20, 20, secured flatwise upon the cover by means of screws 22.

Housing 18 may be provided with a side opening or port 24 receptive of golf balls directed thereto by a supply chute or magazine 26, the chute being extended through aperture 15 in the side wall of casing 14 and terminating close to port 24. The chute preferably is inclined as shown, to feed balls by gravity to port 24 and tee 12, FIG. 7.

Within housing 18 is vertically mounted a pneumatic cylinder 28, fixed therein in any suitable manner, as by means of a mounting block 30. The cylinder has the usual piston and piston rod 32, to be elevated and lowered by delivery of air under pressure selectively to the lower and upper ends of the cylinder by way of air supply lines or pipes 34 and 36.

At the upper end of piston rod 32 is fixedly mounted a carriage 38 adapted for sliding movement within housing 18 between upper and lower limits, as shown by FIGS. 3 and 6, respectively. The carriage is non-rotatable with relation to the housing, and its vertical travel may be determined by the stroke of piston rod 32, although the upper limit of travel may be determined by a stop pin or abutment 48 spanning housing 18 near its upper end.

Carriage 38 may be in the form of a rectangular block having in its upper face a groove 40 flanked by a pair of upstanding ears 42, 42. A pivot pin 44 has opposite ends anchored in the upstanding ears, and at its middle portion said pin supports a rocker element 46 upon which is fixed the upstanding tee 12. The rocker element may move between limits as illustrated by FIGS. 3 and 5, and may be biased toward the FIG. 3 position by the weight of its heel 51 exceeding the weight of its toe 52.

In the normal righted position of FIG. 3, the rocker element is horizontal and its movement in clockwise direction may be limited by stop pin 48, as the latter seats in transverse recesses 50, 50 of the block. In the counterclockwise direction of rocker rotation, movement may be limited by the toe 52 of the rocker striking the base of groove 40, as in FIG. 5. In this connection, it should be understood that FIG. 3 illustrates the normal condition of the tee supporting a ball poised for driving, whereas FIG. 5 shows the tee tilted at the instant the player strikes the ball and dislodges it from the top of the tee.

The tee 12 may have a concavity 52 in its upper end, to support the golf ball in conventional manner. By preference, the tee is formed of rubber, flexible plastic, or any equivalent material which may yield rather than fracture in the event that it is struck by a golf club. The tee may be detachably applied to rocker element 46 for quick and easy replacement, if desired. As FIG. 4 indicates, the tee may have a reduced shank end 54 snugly inserted in a hole provided in the top of rocker element 46.

From the disclosure of FIG. 4, it is apparent that carriage 38 includes a gate member or barrier plate 56 which depends therefrom to close chute 26 when the carriage is elevated. Upon descent of the carriage to the FIG. 7 position, however, the gate member or plate 56 assumes a lowered position out of register with port 24, permitting entry of one ball into housing 18 and atop the tee 12. From this position, the carriage and tee with a ball supported thereon, will be returned to the elevated position of FIG. 3 at which the gate member closes the port 24, preventing a feed of balls until a subsequent lowering of the carriage occurs.

The gate member is fixed to the carriage, and the upper end thereof may be turned inwardly as at 58 to gently return to the chute any ball tending to follow the one which has been accepted by the tee. Thus, only one ball at a time is fed onto the tee with each complete cycle of carriage movement.

As was previously mentioned herein, the pneumatic cylinder 28 provides the motive power for elevating and lowering carriage 38 and the tee supported thereon. When air under pressure is delivered to the cylinder through pipe 34, the piston rod is driven upwardly to elevate the carriage. The upper end of the cylinder may then exhaust through pipe 36. Conversely, air under pressure delivered to the cylinder through pipe 36, and exhausting through pipe 34, enforces a lowering of the carriage for replacement of a ball in accordance with FIG. 7. The speed of travel of the carriage may be regulated, if desired, by installing flow contnol valves (not shown) in pipes 34 and 36.

Referring to FIG. 9, 60 and 62 indicate electric limit switches of the micro-switch type, supported by brackets 64 and 66 fixed upon housing 18. Actuators 68 and 69 of the switches are normally biased to open-circuit the contacts of these switches. Through pairs of conductors 70, 72, and 80, 82, the switches may be placed in circuit with the coil of a solenoid 74, which solenoid actuates a two-way air control valve 76. Valve 76 may direct air under pressure from a supply pipe 78, to either of the tubes 34 or 36 for elevating or lowering the piston rod of cylinder 28.

Under the conditions illustrated by FIG. 9, carriage 38 has struck and moved the actuator 69 of switch 62, to close the contacts of switch 62 for energizing the solenoid 74. Energization of the solenoid has thrown the valve 76 to the position of the arrow 84 shown in full lines, for directing air under pressure into the lower end of cylinder 28 through tube 34. The piston of the cylinder will therefore be driven upwardly, to elevate carriage 38 and tee 12 which has accepted a ball from supply chute port 24.

When the carriage arrives at its upper limit of travel, it will strike the abutment pin 48 which stops the carriage short of contact with the actuator 68 of switch 60. The conditions of FIG. 3 accordingly will obtain, wherein ball will be poised for driving. As long as the ball is so poised, pressure of air from valve 76 will act to maintain the piston and carriage 38 in the elevated position of FIG. 3.

If the player now strikes the ball of FIG.3 and drives it from the tee, as in FIG. 5, the tee will be displaced to tilt the rocker element 46, causing the heel 51 thereof to move the actuator 68 of switch 60 for closing the circuit to solenoid 74. Such closing of-the solenoid circuit actuates valve 76, causing the valve to direct pressure of air to the top of cylinder 28 through tube 36, for lowering the piston and the carriage 38 fixed to piston rod 32. The parts then will descend to the relationship illustrated by FIG. 6, at which the tee will pick up a subsequent ball 10 from supply port 24. The carriage 38, having moved downwardly to strike the actuator 69 of switch 62, will immediately be moved upwardly as the result of solenoid actuation of valve 76.

It will be understood from the foregoing explanation, that successive actuations of solenoid 74 by the closing of switches 60 and 62 in alternation, produces alternate feeding of air pressure to tubes 34 and 36 for elevating and lowering the carriage and tee 12. Thus, whenever a ball is driven with-resultant tilting of the tee as in FIG. 5, there is initiated a cycle of downward and then upward carriage movement, for presenting a subsequent ball to driving position. The presentation of balls for driving will continue automatically and indefinitely, so long as the player drives the balls off the tee, and the supply of balls in chute 26 is maintained.

In the operation of golf ball driving ranges, it is desirable to provide a multiplicity of tee stations so that patrons may practice driving without waiting for other patrons to complete their practice periods. The device of the present invention is well suited to such a plan, since any number of tee units may be installed at the range and supplied with balls from a single hopper or other container connected with the supply chutes or magazines of the um'ts.

If desired, a ball counter such as 88 may be located at or near each tee unit, within sight of each player, for indicating the number of balls teed during a practice period. A duplicate counter 90, operative concurrently with counter 88, may be located at a remote attendants station 92 for supplying the same information to the attendant in charge, for record purposes.

Counters 88 and 90 may be electrically actuated simultaneously by connecting them in circuit with micro-switch 92 on housing 18, said switch having an actuator 94 to be struck by carriage 38 with each descending movement of the carriage. Switch 92 is normally open-circuited, but may be closed momentarily by action of carriage 38, to complete a circuit through both counters by way of conductors 96 and 98, to actuate the counters.

In addition to the counter 90, the attendant may have available to him an electric master switch 100 connected in the circuit of valve-actuating solenoid 74, for selectively activating or disabling the tee unit. As will readily be understood, switch 108 may be open-circuited by the attendant to prevent unauthorized or free use of the tee unit.

. It will further be noted that the attendants station may be epuipped with a number of master switches 100, for individual control of all tee units on the range. The reference numeral 102 indicates a signal lamp indicating whether or not the tee unit is electrically energized for use.

A multiplicity of tee units of the invention may be advantageously installed in a driving range with little expense, to afford a completely automatic system requiring a minimum of supervision. The patron using the equipment wastes no time in teeing up the golf balls, obtaining additional balls, and otherwise concerning himself with ancillary tasks that detract from the actual driving practice sought. He is therefore enabled to realize a maximum amount of driving practice within a limited period of time, made possible by the use of the equipment herein disclosed.

It may be noted also that underground installation of the tee units, the ball supply chutes, and the necessary wiring and piping, affords unrestricted play and freedom of movement throughout the practice period. From the standpoint of servicing when necessary, all of the operating mechanism associated with inner housing 18 may be quickly and easily replaced as a unit.

It is to be understood that various modifications and changes may be made in the structural details of the device, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Golf ball practice driving equipment comprising in combination: a multiplicity of tee units each including a tee, a carriage for the tee shiftable vertically below ground level to elevate and lower the tee to operative and inoperative positions above and below ground level, and means to poise a ball upon the tee with each movement of the tee from operative position, means responsive to a force applied to the tee by golf club impact to initiate a cycle of movement of the carriage and tee from the operative to the inoperative position and back to the operative position, a central station remote from the tee units and including a battery of counters, a second battery of counters located one at each tee unit, and means electrically associating each tee unit with the respective tee located counter and one of said remote station counters, said last named means being responsive to each successive movement of each said carriage to actuate the associated counters.

2. Golf ball practice driving equipment comprising in combination: a multiplicity of tee unitseach including a tee, carriage for the tee shiftable vertically below ground level to elevate and lower the tee to operative and inoperative positions above and below ground level, and means to poise a ball upon the tee with each movement of the tee from operative position, electrical and pneumatic means responsive to force applied to the tee by golf club impact to initiate a cycle of movement of the carriage and tee from the operative to the inoperative position and back to the operative position, a central station remote from the tee units and including a battery of counters, a second battery of counters located one at each tee unit, means electrically associating each tee unit with the respective tee located counter and one of said remote station counters, said last named means being responsive to each successive movement of each said carriage to actuate the associated counters.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 2, wherein is included means visually indicating at the central station the fact of disability or operability of the tee units individually.

4. Golf ball practice driving equipment comprising in combination: a multiplicity of tee units each including a tee, a tee-supporting carriage shiftable vertically below ground level to elevate and lower the tee to operative and inoperative positions above and below ground level, and means to poise a ball upon the tee with each movement of the tee from operative position, electrical and pneumatic means responsive to force applied to the tee by golf club impact to initiate a cycle of movement of the carriage and tee from the operative position, a central station remote from the tee units and including a battery of counters, means electrically associating each tee unit with one of said counters, said last named means being responsive to each successive movement of each said carriage to actuate the associated counters, a second battery of counters corresponding in number with the number of counters at the central station, each counter of the second battery being located in the vicinity of a tee unit, and including means for actuating each counter of the second battery in correspondency with actuations of a counter at the central station, and means controllable at the central station for selectively temporarily disabling carriage movement of any tee unit.

5. The combination as set forth in claim 4, wherein is included means visually indicating at the central station the fact of disability or operability of the tee units individually.

6. Apparatus to tee a succession of golf balls, comprising in combination, an elongate earth-supported casing having a buried lower end, and an upper end having a cover with an opening therein disposed at ground level, an inner housing insertable through said opening and detachably suspended from said cover, a shiftable carriage within said inner housing, a ball tee disposed normally in upright position upon the carriage, said tee including support means displaceable by a club blow directed against the tee, pneumatic power means including valve means and tube means leading therefrom to the bottom and midportion of said housing to supply fluid under pressure for shifting the carriage cyclically longitudinally of said housing, from an operative position at the upper end of said housing to an inoperative position intermediate said housing ends, and then back to the operative position at which the tee isexposed above ground level, electrical means operative upon lateral displacement of the tee support means and the ball by club impact, for initiating the cycle of carriage movement aforesaid, and means for depositing a replacement ball atop the tee upon each lowering of the carriage to the inoperative position.

7. Apparatus to tee a succession of golfballs, comprising in combination, an elongate earth-supported casing having a buried lower end, and an upper end having a cover with an opening therein disposed at ground level, an inner housing insertable through said opening and detachably suspended from said cover, a shiftable carriage within said inner housing, pneumatic power means including valve means and tube means leading therefrom to the bottom and mid-portion of said housing to supply fluid under pressure for shifting the carriage cyclically longitudinally of said housing, from an operative position at the upper end of said housing, to an inoperative position intermediate said housing ends, and then back to the operative position, a rocker element having opposite ends and an intermediate portion, and means pivoting the rocker element intermediate its ends upon the carriage, for rocking movement between two limits in a vertical plane, a ball-supporting tee mounted upon the rocker element to extend vertically upwardly above ground level at one limit of movement of the rocker element, and to assume a position of inclination to the vertical upon movement of the rocker element to the opposite limit, an electrical circuit including an upper limit switch and a lower limit switch supported in fixed relationship to said housing, said switches each including an actuator, the lower switch actuator being actuated by the carriage in descending to the inoperative position aforesaid, to close the circuit and initiate operation of the power means for elevating the carriage to operative position, and the upper switch actuator being located for actuation by the rocker element when tilted to incline the tee, to close the circuit and initiate operation of the power means for lowering the carriage to the inoperative position, and means for depositing a golf ball atop the tee prior to movement of the carriage to the operative position following descent thereof toward the inoperative position.

8. Apparatus to tee a succession of golf balls, comprising in combination, an elongate vertical earth-supported casing having a buried lower end, and an upper end having a cover with an opening therein disposed at ground level, an inner housing insertable through said opening and detachably suspended from said cover, a shiftable carriage within the housing, pneumatic power means including valve means and tube means leading therefrom I to the bottom and mid-portion of said housing to supply fluid under pressure for alternatively shifting the carriage from an operative position at the upper end of said housing to an inoperative position intermediate said housing ends, and from the inoperative position back to the operative position, a rocker element having opposite ends and an intermediate portion, and means pivoting the rocker element intermediate its ends upon the carriage, for rocking movement between two limits in a vertical plane, a ball-supporting tee mounted upon the rocker element to extend vertically upwardly above ground level at one limit of movement of the rocker element, and to assume a position of inclination to the vertical upon movement of the rocker element to the opposite limit, an electrical switch operative by the carriage upon reaching the lower inoperative position, to initiate operation of the pneumatic means for elevating the carriage, an electrical switch operative by the rocker element when moved by the tee to an inclined position of the latter, for initiating operation of the pneumatic means to lower the carriage from the operative position, and means for depositing a golf ball atop the tee while the carriage is in a position other than the operative position.

9. Apparatus to tee a succession of golf balls, comprising in combination, an elongate vertical earth-supported casing having an apertured side wall, a buried lower end, and an upper end having a cover with an opening therein disposed at ground level, an inner housing insertible said housing, pneumatic power means including valve means and tube means leading therefrom to the bottom and mid-portion of said housing to supply fluid under pressure for alternatively shifting the carriage from an operative position at the upper end of said housing and downwardly past the side wall aperture, to an inoperative position intermediate said housing ends, and from the inoperative position upwardly to the operativeposition, a chute for feeding golf balls to the interior of saidhousing through the side wall aperture thereof, a gate member fixed to the carriage and movable therewith to traverse the side wall aperture, said gate covering said aperture to bar the feeding of balls into the housing to all positions of the carriage except the lowered inoperative position, a rocker element having opposite ends and an intermediate portion, and means pivoting the rocker element intermediate its ends upon the carriage, for rocking movement in a vertical plane between two limits, a ball-supporting tee mounted upon the rocker element to extend vertically upwardly above ground level at one limit of movement of the rocker element, and to assume a position of inclination to the vertical upon movement of the rocker element to the opposite 'limit, an electrical switch operative by the carriage upon reaching the lower inoperative position, to initiate operation of the pneumatic means for elevating the carriageto operative position, and an electrical switch operative by the rocker element when rocked by the tee to an inclined position of the latter, for initiating operation of the pneumatic means to lower the carriage into position presenting the tee for acceptance of a ball from the ball feed chute.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,695,000 12/1928 Brockhagen 27320l 2,259,916 10/ 1941 Wheeler et al 273201 X 2,652,252 9/1953 Alexander 2734l X 2,696,985 12/1954 Hogeberg 273201 OTHER REFERENCES AMF parts catalog, automatic pinspotters, copyright 1953, revised October 1959, page 90.

DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner. ANTON O. OECHSLE, Examiner, 

1. GOLF BALL PRACTICE DRIVING EQUIPMENT COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: A MULTIPLICITY OF TEE UNITS EACH INCLUDING A TEE, A CARRIAFE FOR THE TEE SHIFTABLE VERTICALLY BELOW GROUND LEVEL TO ELEVATE AND LOWER THE TEE TO OPERATIVE AND INOPERATIVE POSITIONS ABOVE AND BELOW GROUND LEVEL, AND MEANS TO POISE A BALL UPON THE TEE WITH EACH MOVEMENT OF THE TEE FROM OPERATIVE POSITION, MEANS RESPONSIVE TO A FORCE APPLIES TO THE TEE BY GOLF CLUB IMPACT TO INITATE A CYCLE OF MOVEMENT OF THE CARRIAGE AND TEE FROM THE OPERATIVE TO THE INOPERATIVE POSITION AND BACK TO THE OPERATIVE POSITION, A CENTRAL STATION REMOTE FROM THE UNITS AND INCLUDING A BATTERY OF COUNTERS, A SECOND BATTERY OF COUNTERS LOCATED ONE AT EACH TEE UNIT, AND MEANS ELECTRICALLY ASSOCIATING EACH UNIT WITH THE RESPECTIVE TEE LOCATED COUNTER AND ONE OF SAID REMOTE STATION COUNTERS, SAID LAST NAMED MEANS BEING RESPONSIVE TO EACH SUCCESSIVE MOVEMENT OF EACH SAID CARRIAGE TO ACTUATE THE ASSOCIATED COUNTERS. 